Okay buckle up folks, gonna spill the beans on my Vinci, California trip. Yeah, that tiny speck of a town near Santa Clarita. Didn't know much except it existed, honestly.
First thing, grabbed my junker car. Google Maps swore it was a short drive from L.A., and for once it wasn't lying. Cruised up the I-5, nothing fancy. Saw the "Welcome to Vine Valley" sign – felt kinda underwhelming at first glance, just hills and some scattered buildings. Parked near what looked like a community center. Free parking score!
My main goal? Finding the friggin' troll. Heard whispers online about this giant metal troll sculpture hidden somewhere. Sounded weird, had to see it. Walked past Vinci Pizza & Grill – smelled amazing but held off eating. Wandered down a side street, kinda residential, started thinking I was lost. Then BAM. Turned a corner and there he was. Huge. Made entirely of scrap metal. Sitting under a bridge. Totally bizarre, totally awesome. Took like fifty pics. Called it "The Vinci Troll" in my head. Best free sight ever.
Hunger Kicks In
After the troll high wore off, my stomach screamed. Headed straight back to that pizza place I sniffed out earlier, Vinci Pizza & Grill. Got a slice loaded with everything. Simple joint, plastic chairs, couple locals chatting. Pizza? Surprisingly fire. Crispy crust, tons of cheese. Hit the spot perfectly while planning my next move.
Feeling adventurous (and full), I remembered hearing about some "vineyard views." Asked the pizza guy where to look. Got vague directions like "up the hill behind the fire station." Drove up a bumpy road – seriously doubted my car's suspension. Parked near some radio towers at the top. View? Pure rolling hills covered in dusty green vines. No fancy tasting room, just the land itself stretching out. Peaceful as hell. Snapped more photos feeling like I found a secret.
Wrapping up, I figured needed one last quirky stop. Heard about "The Giant Orange" somewhere near the edge of town. Drove slow, scanning driveways. Almost missed it. Big, bright orange fruit stand shaped like, well, an orange. Closed when I got there, but looked classic roadside Americana. Perfect weird bookmark to end the day.
Drove back feeling that good kinda tired. Vinci isn't some glamorous wine country hotspot. It's small, scattered, a bit sleepy. But man, finding that troll, eating solid pizza, seeing those hills, spotting that giant fruit... made for a genuine, unpolished little adventure. Proof you don't need a plan or big bucks, just gotta show up and look around.
